Brick and pallet centering device



Aug. 25, 1931. G. E. LUCE ET-AL BRICK AND PALLET CENTERING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Gk/#70 E U/(5. THO/1H5 B HUEST/S BY I - ATT NEY5.

Aug. 25, 1931. G. E. LUCE ET AL 1,820,471

- BRICK AND PALLET CENTEHING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Shae; 2

JQQ mQ flaa mi N RH: ww fi" mfl t N mm 5: m u a a. a lb ETIIP ELKMQUFIIILL|IML l a 1 I-" IN VEN TOR.

GRHFTO/Y E. 1065. 7790/1/75 ,5, lil/ES 7/.5. BY

QQcWsW M T NEYS.

Aug. 25, 1931; G, E, LUCE ETAL 1, 20,471

BRICK AND PALLET CENTERING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3b 'T q- 1NVENTOR5. GKHFTO/V E. 1.1/65. 77101-1175 5. HuEsr/s. Q

BY; q: 9 t 2 I '1' l MATTORNEQ S.

Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED sures.

eRAr'roN n. 'LUCE, oF"cHIcAGo, ;1 LI'.nioIs,- aim 'rrroiiuas, is. ne s; or GREEN,-

- CASTLE, INDIANA; AssIGNonsro ,L'ANC PENNSYLVANIA, A. conrorurrron BR CK AND nan-LE e nme mvm Application filed-Mayi-24 ,1929.i Serial 116,365,743." 4

i i This invention relates to abrick handling device adapted to center a palletwith'respect to its conveyor and center the brick relative to the pallet upon which they are earned and to control the travel of thepallet upon the conveyorintimed relation with other apparatus 'ina system of automatically 'han- "in varying positions, and the brick willlie on 'therpallets inuneven positions. In order to dlingbrick. This is. a continuationin'part of application Serial No. 265,439, filed March n q an end elevational view of the device. Fig.

28, 1928. This mechanism/is one" of .several units employed in a brick handling systemf'wherein the brickare carried upon pallets by a conveyor'ultimately to a hacking machine. At

the beginning of theconveying operation, I I

SPGCtlVG view of the palletstop elements.

the pallets may be supported by the conveyor bring the pallets and the brick carried thereby into such relative position as to permit them to be automatically operatedupon, it is "necessary to center the pallets withlrespe'ct to the conveyor, or in other words place them in a predetermined. position thereon, and

cause the brick to be'likewisecentered in apredetermined position on the pallet;

The machine next to operate upon th'e'brick and pallets an edging macl1ine,,one form .of whichis disclosedin Patent No. 1,746,664,

issued to Grafton E. Luce February 11, 1930, and another form of which is disclosedxin copending application'SerialcNo. 400,835, filed 'OctoberI 19, 1929. It .is necessary for the operation of the edging machine that the pallets i reach the same in "timed relation with the movement of itsparts. The release of pallets from the device herein described is, therefore,

' timed with the operation of said edging machine. v N

The chief objectof this invention is to provide such a centering device as will not only center a pallet with respect to the conveyor and the line of travel thereof, but will simultaneously center the brick supported thereby ina predetermined posit-ion uponthe pallet. Another object of the invention is to pro 'vide apparatus for stoppingthe pallets upon the conveyor, centering them and releasing them for further travel in the shortest'possiconnections. l i In thedrawings 10 indicates a plurality 70 .ble time and intimed relationwith was device next to operate on said "pallets;

The fulLnature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a" side elevational View of the centering device with the, jaws thereof in centering position. Fig. 2 isa" top plan view of the centering device." Fig. .3 is

4 is an elevationalvie'w'of'the centering'mechanism showing the pallet stop apparatus and electrical switches for controllingthe'same ofchannels arranged in spaced relation and each supporting atriackwayllinturn'supporting a link .be'ltxchainconve'yor 12pmvided with rollers 13 engagin g'said'trackpallet-supporting plates 14. The pallet'is" indicated by the numeral 15 and the brick by the numeralltij Straddling the conveyor system there is a way, and provided" Wlths' lateralibracket or '75.

framesup'port 1'7 supportedby the upright" columns 18. Saidframe t17*embodies flanged anglebars slidably supporting andconfining' the. cross heads" 19,: said cross'heads being movable toward and away from each other.

Each cross head supports multiplealigning or "clamping jaws, the n pallet engaging jaw being indicated by the number--20, the brick engaging jaw by the numeral21 and the site end terminating in abearing 27 -sup-' portedby a crank shaft 28 between the cheeks 29 thereof. E The crank-shaft 28 is rotatably supp 'rted' in the bearings '30. car- ,ried' by the frame 17 connecting portion beingfindicatedvby the numeral 22.1 Each crossheadis provided With'the cars 23 between which is pivotally mounteda wrist pin '24 which mountsthe head 25 of the connecting 'rod 26, the oppoverse relation and each crank shaft supports a gear 31, which gears mesh with each other and, therefore, have reverse rotation. The mechanism for rotating the crank shaft includes a pinion 32 supported by ashaft 33 of a by the shaft 35. The motor 36 mounts a driving pinion 37 meshing with a similar pinion 38 on shaft 35. Associated with the shaft 39 of the motor 36, there is a solenoidactuated brake indicated by the numeral 40. Said brake is operated to stop frictionally the motor immediately upon the current being cut off, which actuates the solenoidiu the usual manner. Connected with the motor by suitable electric cables, there is a control switch. indicated by the numeral 41 which has an operating shaft 42 carrying a gear 43 that meshes with one of the mating gears 31 so that the switch is operated in timed relation with the movement of the centering jaws for controlling the current to the motor as will be hereinafter described.

If desired. a spring bumper 44 may be interposed between the end of the connecting rod 26 and the head 25. The spring bumper is adapted to take up any shock caused by inequality in the pallet or the brick and acts as an absorbing medium for avoiding breakage.

In the operation of the device a pallet is stopped in position between jaws 20 and 21 by means of pallet stop devices to be hereinafter described. The motor is then automatically actuated to move the jaws inward to the centering position as illustrated in Fig. '1.

. predetermined point in the outward travel ofthe jaws the pallet stop device is automatically actuated to release the pallet for further movement on the conveyor.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, longitudinal frame members '45 are supported on j the upright framemembers 18 on each side of the conveyor. The members 45 in turn support cross members 46 supporting the channel members 10 previously described. A bearing member 47 on each of the frame members 45 carries a shaft 48 in turn carrying sprockets 49 herein. five in number.

Three of the sprockets 49 are associated with the conveyor chains 12 hereinbefore described and the other two are placed adjacent to-the outer pair of chains 12 and associated with conveyor chains 50 leadingi to the next operating machine. The sprockets 49 are all of the same size and are keyed to shaft 48 so that the travels of chains 12 and 50 areniaintainedat the same speed. The chains 50carry For the operation of the nents 51. 1 ar reductlon transmission 34 driven Continued rotation of the motor carries the jaws outwardly from each other next operating machine, it is necessary that pallets be released from the centering device at the proper time to reach chains 50 from one to three inches ahead of attach- 4 Supported on'oneof the members 45 is an .electric switch 52 connected by a pair of gears 53 with the shaft 48. The switch 52 is, therefore, driven intimed relation w th the conveyor chains and is used as will hereinafter be described to controlthe operation of motor 36-. and the pallet-releasing means.

A pair of longitudinal frame members 54 are supported by clip angles 55 upon the upright members 18 and in turn. support a plurality of transverse channel. members 56. The. transverse channel members support pallet stop-units 57, 58 and'59 and electric switch boxes 60, 61, 62, 63 and 64. Each of the said switch boxes has an arm 65 extending upwardly in'to'th'e path of travel of the pallets and adapted to be operated by said pallets to open or close circuits in the switch boxes Each of the pallet stop umts comprise a pair of frames 66 pivotally carrying a shaft 67. Associated with each of the'frames 66 is stop lever 68 havlng a pin 69 engaging a slotted hole 7 O in the said frame and having its lower end pivotallyconnected to a link 71" fixedly mounted: upon the shaft 67. By this construction rotation of the shaft 67 causes raising of the stop lever 68 into the path of travel ofthe pallet and return rotation thereof causes dropping of said lever to allow travel of the pallet. Each of the frames 66 is positioned adjacent to one of the outside conveyor chains 12. Intermediate of the 7 said frames is a solenoid frame 72 supporting a solenoid 7 3. The plunger of the said solenoid ispivotally connected to a lever 74 vfixe dly carriedupon the shaft 67. The energizing of the solenoid 73 thereby rotates shaft 67' to place the lever 68 in position to stop a pallet and the deenergizing of said solenoid allows the said levers to drop by gravity out of the path of the pallet. The slotted holes 69 are placed at an angle as shown in Fig. 5 andthereby allow the lever 68 to drop diagonally away from the pallet rather than dropping in'a truly vertical direction. This al 7 lows a free release of the pallet which could not otherwise be obtained.-

.th'e'knife' switch 76" and is indicated by the numeral-78 throughout all of its branches I lo The motor 36 is herein shown as" a direct current motor having armature79,series field; coils 80, shunt. field coils 81 and: brake solenoid' 82.- The switch 41 'is illustrated diagrammaticallyqas having three contacts 41% 41 and 419, each controlled by one of a series 767 741line of foams 83 to open andclose' its circuit-in timed relation with the travel of the centering jaws; Theswitchz52 is representedtdiagrammatically as containing'two pairs of contact members 52*. and52 :each' controlled byone of cams 84'to open or closeitscircuit veyor chains and 12. The numerals-t in timed relation with the travel of the conand' 60 indicate respectivelyfa normally closed and .a normally opened pair of contact points contained in the switch box 60.

20 v v respectively. The numeral f64 indicates a The numerals 61 62 and 68" indicate pairs of electrical contacts. normally opened and contained in the switch boxes '61, 62 and 63 normally closed pair ot-contacts carried in the switch box 64; A control panel carries magneticmotor starting contactors 86 and 87 accelerating contactor 88,"normally closed dynamic brakecontactors 89 and 90,dynamic brake resister '91, accelerating :resiste'r 92', thermal overload relay 93 and magnetic con trol contactors 94,95 and '96; i The numerals '57, 58 and59 indicate the solenoids for actuating the palletstop, units 57,58 and 59 initial relation of parts in which the centering respectively. r

- In the operatlon ofthedev1ce assume: an

jaws are in their farthest open position, the

,conveyor chainsare in operation and. all of sitions indicated 'in- Fig. 6. In. this relation the electrical apparatus 'isin thenormal poangle to the line of travel of the.conveyor..

In that case, one end of the pallet will strike a one .of thefstop levers 68 before theotlier.

. with the conveyor. The arm of the. switch The first end'to strike 'iwill be --hel d'-in place until the other-end has: come in contact with its stop lever 68 bringing .the. pallet square box 64 is positioned approximately half way between the levers 68 and substantially in line therewith. The'edge of the pallet will, therefore, strike the arm at the instant of contact with both stop members 68. The

actuation of switch 64 then opens the con tact'fit? allowing deenergizationof the solenoid 59 andpassage of the pallet along the conveyor in squared relation.

In passing into the'device the pallet actuates in turnthe levers for the switch boxes 63, 62, 61 and 60. The first of these contacts, .63, is dependent upon th'econtact 61 i as (shown in the diagram and, therefore, no

action "resultsunless the said contacts are simultaneously actuated. The actuation of contact 62 energizes the solenoid 57 to plaice the pallet stop unit 57in conditionto stop the pallet in position for centering; The cir f .cuit forthisactua-tion as follows: 75

98 ,60line 99I'62=P line 100+57'78,- -.7675.- The actuation of ;.contact 62: also-actuates asolenoid 97; 1" adapted to close the contact by a circ'uit ux as follows: 75+767741? 98.60'.99

62e-100 ,97-78+76 ,75; The ,contactf95 short circuits both the 160" and 62 contacts and thereby'mainta'ins the circuit'forthe en 6 ergizing of solenoid 57 toholdthe palletin centering position, even after the break- The above circuit cannot be broken torelease ing of either or both contacts 60 and 62.

apall'et' until contact 41 is'brokeliatapredetermined time in the travel ofthe center-2:2.

ing j aws after centering is complete;

' WVhen the pallet comes to rest betwe'enthe centering cross heads, it is in position to "actu-fvv 'ate switch 60 to open its contact and switches j60 and 6l 't'o close their contacts. I. Them-199 ergizing ofswitch 6.1 closes a circuit to -energize solenoid .58, to place pallet stop unit 58 in pallet-stopping position, thus holding 1 the next oncoming-pallet: as longas a pallet for this actuation is as follows: 757677 occupies the centering position. The circuit" If the second palletenters the "device dur- 6 ing the centering of the first one, it is stopped by. pallet-stopping unit 58 in contactzjwith" the lever arm of switch 63, thus closingcontact 63 The closing of this contact when contact-61 is also closedsets up a circuit to energize a solenoid .101 adapted to close the normallycpen contact 94. The circuit for this actuation is'as follows: '75

position and maintaining. pallet-stopping unit 59 in positionto stop the next oncoming pallet, even after the saidpallet is positioned square with the conveyor. Thus provision is. made for stopping two oncoming-pallets other pallet. If the supply of pallets is "extremely irregulara larger number-of palletstop units must be provided and must be electrically connected in an analogous man-i If the pallets are carefully placed on ner. theconveyor reasonably square therewith the may be omitted.

squaring feature associatedwiththe unit 59 7 For the operation of the centering rnotor 36 du'pllcate circuits are provided, one of which is associated withthe motor-starting I The closing of contact 94 short circuits the contact 64*, thus maintaining solenoid 59. in the energizing; 9

1 if they arrive during the centering of an- I contactor 86 and the other with the motor starting con tactor 87, which are used on alternate centering cycles. The two contactors 86" and 87 are connected in parallel and the opfield coils 81 are directly connected to lines 77 and 1.08 and so are always energized. The solenoid brake coil 82 is connected between the lines 106 and 108 and is, tl erefore, energized at thesame time as the mot-or armature.

A solenoid 109 is connected by lines 107 and 110 in parallel with the armature 79 and is adapted to close the acceleration contactor 88, short circuiting the starting resistance 92. This occurs when the speed of the motor has increased to a predetermined value sufficient to generate a counter-olectroinotive force sufficient to operate the solenoid 109. The contactors 86 and 87 are actuated to start the motor by solenoids 111 and 112 respectively. The contact 86 is mechanically connected to the normally closed contact 89 so that closing of contact 86 opens Contact 89. The contact 87 is similarly connected to the normally closed contact 90. By means of the lines 107 and 110 and the contactors 89 and 90, the brake resister 91 is directly connected to the armature of the motor so long as both solenoids 111 and 112 are deenergized. The stopping of the motor, therefore, immediately connects the brake resistance 91 for dynamic braking. Two solenoids 113 are connected in parallel with the resistance 91 and are adapted to maintain contacts 89 and 90 in closed relation as long as the counter-electromotive force of the motor is sufiicient for their actuation. This prevents bouncing and arcing of the contacts 89 and 90 upon the application of the dynamic braking. Thesnlenoids 118 are not of sufficient strength to oppose the action of solenoids 111 and 112. By this wiring, therefore, the actuation of either solenoid 111 or 112 will start the motor and will supply current to energize the braking coil 82 to release the solenoid brake. The deenergizing of the same solenoids will stop the motor and instantly apply both the solenoid and dynamic brakes.

The circuits for actuation of solenoids 111 and 112 to operate the motor 36 are associated with the contacts and 60 in switch box 60 and with certain contacts in switches 41 and 52. The 60 contact is used to condition the circuits for starting the motor when a pallet is in centering position. However, the actual start impulse is given by the contacts in switch box 52 which are operated in timedcentering.

travel of the attachments 51 to allow each pallet to be centered and released and to reach conveyor 50 from one to three inches ahead of one of the said attachments. The impulse from switch 52 will not be eiiective to start; the motor unless a pallet is in position for Conversely, once a pallet is in position for centering, the motor will not be started untilthe impulse is received from switch 52. Once a centering cycle has been completed another motor actuation can not be obtained until three events have occurred:

1. The pallet just centered must leave centering position to allow switch 60 to close.

2. Another pallet-must enter centering position operating contacts 62 and 60 in turn.

3. Another impulse must be received from switch 52.

The complete circuits for this operation will be hereinafter described in detail.

The contacts 41 and 41 in switch41 are used to stop the motor at the completion. of each centering cycle with the jaws in the extreme open position. Contact 41 is associated with solenoid 111 and contact 41 is associated with solenoid 112. The switch 41 is geared to make a complete revolution for two complete centering cycles. Each of the con tacts 41 and 41 is closed during slightly more than half of this revolution. The timing is such that each contact is closed just be fore the other is opened and the opening of the contacts is timed to occur when the centering jaws are in extreme open position. Thus the opening of one contact stops the motor and leaves the second contact in position for the start of the next cycle.

The motor control circuits will now be traced in detail. When the'pallet has reached centering position, contact 62 has been actuated to energize solenoid 97 and close contactor 95, thus connecting line 100 with the common supply line 77 as previously described. The contact 60 is then operated by the pallet to energize a solenoid 104 adapted to close the normally open contact 96. The circuit for solenoid 104 is 7 5-7 6-7 741 989510060"105-104 7 8 76 7 5. The closing of contact 96 supplies power to switch 52 for the motor-starting impulse by means of a line 114. As long as contact 96 is open, switch 52 is inoperative to start the motor. In switch 52, two contacts 52 and 52", are operated to close simultaneously at the instant that a starting impulse is desired. 1 The two contacts are opened immediately after closing, thus giving an instantaneous electric impulse to one of the solenoids 111 or 112, depending upon which of the contacts 41 or 41 is in contacting position. The cir-- cuit for solenoid 111 is 7 5-7677-96line 11452line 115-111-line 116-41 -line 117a normally closed contactor 118 controlled by the overload relay 989378 7 67 5. For solenoid 112, the circuit is next pallet.

12041-11711893-787675., The inclusion of contact 118 in each of these circuits insures that, the operation of the over-.

load relay will stop the motor whichever circuit is operating. Carried. on the contactor 86 is .a normally open interlock 121 which short circuits both the contactors'96 and 52 as soon as switch 86 is closed. Thus theimlock 122 associated with contact 87 and soleperforms a similar function in that noid 112 circuit. v v

I When the motor has traveled far enough to bring the centering aws intocentering position and to start them on their return travel, the contact 41 is broken and instantly al. lowed to close again. Sincethis contact is a part of the circuit for solenoid 97 as previously described, this solenoid is thereby deenergized, contact 95 is opened, solenoids 57, 58 and 59 are deenergized and the pallets are free to travel on the conveyor. The solenoid 104is-also dependent upon the contact 95. Therefore, the opening of contact 95 allows the opening of contact 96 and ren ders switch 52 inoperative.

As previouslydescribed, the contacts 60 and 62? form a part of thecircuit for solenoid 97, therefore, the solenoid can notagain be actuated until the pallet just centered has cleared the centering position allowing contact 60 to close and the next oncoming pallet has operated contact 62. r The closing of contact 41 immediately afterit is opened, therefore, has no other eifect-than to condition the circuit ready for the arrival of. the

In the continued travel ofthe'motorafter contact 41 has been instantaneously opened,

the contact 41 willbe closedbefore contact 41 is open to stop the motor. Since this al- 7 ways occurs after switch 52 hasb een ren dered inoperative bythe opening of contact 41", the closing of this contact cannot cause an immediate repetition of the; centering cycle.

If desired the switch bOX BQ and contact 62 may be omitted. Lines 99 and 100 will then be connected together. In this case sole noids 57 and 97 are normally energized instead of being energized only after the actuation of switch 62. This results in a slight waste of power but otherwise the operation is the same as previously described.

The invention claimed is: g r

1. The combination with a conveyor for movably supporting a pallethaving brick thereon, of means for simultaneously aligning said pallet relative to the conveyor and said brick relative to thepallet including a slidably mounted cross head-member, having a portionadapted to engagethe brick and a portion adapted to engagethe pallet, and

power means for reciprocating sa1d=member.

2. :The combination with a conveyorfor.

movably supporting: a .pallet having brick thereon, 'of'means for simultaneously aligng -x ing. said pallet relative to the conveyor and said bricklrelative to the pallet'includin 1a:

a portion adapted to engage th'ebr'ick, and a portion-adapted to engage the pallet,-and unidirectional power means; for reciprocating said cross head member. 4 p

The combination with a conveyor for movably supporting a-pallet having brick c said-brick relative to the pallet in'cludinga thereon,-of means for simultaneously align- I 'ing'sa-id pallet relative to-the conveyor and slidably-mounted cross head member having;

a portionadapted to engage the brick and a portion adapted to engage the pa11et,"a crank] shaft, a connecting rod connecting, said crank shaft and saidmember, and power means for completely rotating said crank shaft .toreciprocate said member;

4. The combination with a thereon, of an overhead frame, a pair of jaws slid-ably carried by said frame and-havingportions adapted to engage said palletand other ,portionsadaptedlto engage said brick;

rocating-bothjaws. a

6. The combination with 'aconveyor, of a I conveyor for movably supportingarticles, of a pair 0f.

and; power means forsimultaneously recip-v triggeradapted tobe actuated by an article carriedjon said conveyor, HIGiLIlS LfOI' stopping- .1

said article in position to actuate said trigger, andm'eans responsive to the actuation of said trigger for repositioning said article upon the conveyor while stopped.

7. The combination witha conveyor, of an electrically operated stopping device for stopping the travel of articles carried there- .on, an electric switch operable upon the approach of an article to actuate said electrical stopping means, a second electric switch actuatabl'e by the article when stopped, and power f means responsive to the actuation of said lastmentioned switch for repositioning the article upon said conveyor.

8. The. combination with a conveyor, of an article-stopping device adapted to stop an article carried thereon, means for repositioning the article when so stopped, an electric switch member actuatable by said article when so stopped, and a second article-stopping device responsive to said switch to stop 7 a succeeding article.

9, The combination of a conveyor, means for stopping an article carried by said conveyor, means for operating upon said article when so stopped, a second conveyor adapted to receive articles from said first conveyor,

10 and means for releasing said article-stopping means in timed relation with the travel of said second conveyor.

10. The combination of a conveyor, means for stopping the travel of an article carried thereby, power-operated means for repositioning the article with respect to the conveyor when so stopped, an electric switch operable by the article when so stopped, a second electric switch operable in timed relation to the travel of said conveyor, and a motor control aetuatable upon the operation of both of said switches to initiate the operation of said power means.

11. The combination of a conveyor, a

second conveyor having attachments thereon and adapted to receive articles from said firstmentioned conveyor, means associated with said first-mentioned conveyor for stopping the travel of an article thereon, repositioning said article and releasing the same in proper timed relation with the travel of said secondmentioned conveyor to reach said second con- Veyor in a predetermined position with re- Spect tosaid attachments.

'12, The combination of a conveyor, means for stopping the travel of an article carried thereon, electrically-driven means for repositioning the article with respect to the conveyor when so stopped, an electric switch operable by the said article when so stopped to initiate the actuation of said electricallydriven means, and a second electric switch actuatable by the said article to prevent successive actuation of the said electricallydriven means by the same article.

In witness whereof, We have hereunto aflixed our signatures.

GRAFTON E. LUCE. THOMAS B. HUESTIS. 

